Written by Tim Daniels at Bleacher Reports.com
LSU offensive lineman Josh Boutte received a one-game suspension from Tigers head coach Les Miles on Monday for his late hit on Wisconsin cornerback D’Cota Dixon during Saturday’s game.
Bleacher Report’s Barrett Sallee passed along comments from Miles about the decision, including the fact Boutte called Dixon to apologize for the incident:
Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports provided a statement from SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey: “I have accepted the one-game suspension imposed by Les Miles and because [sic] LSU has taken appropriate action.”
Miles originally defended the senior offensive guard, who delivered a cringe-worthy, crushing shot to Dixon after the defensive back sealed Wisconsin’s 16-14 win with an interception. Andrew Lopez of the Times-Picayune passed along the coach’s explanation before he reviewed the video:
I grabbed him right away when it happened. I’ll have to see the film. He’s an offensive lineman in protection. What happens downfield many times, you can be protecting beyond the play with the idea you don’t know if the ball is even thrown.
It’s very logical he did not know the guy had gone down and was just running. He just came up on a guy he thought was returning the ball and made a tackle. And that’s what he said (to Miles), and I believe it. He’s not a malicious guy. I can’t imagine he saw him go down and went and made a tackle.
The Big Ten Network highlighted the play that led to Boutte’s ejection:
Chris Hays of the Orlando Sentinel noted Dixon indicated during a conversation Sunday he wasn’t holding a grudge.
“I don’t blame the kid. He probably was frustrated,” Dixon said. “If I was ranked No. 5 and we lost to an unranked team and we were supposed to go to the national championship, I’d be upset too. It is what it is. It’s part of the game. No hard feelings.”
The one-game suspension shouldn’t have a major impact on LSU. The Tigers face FCS squad Jacksonville State on Saturday and should cruise to their first victory of the season, even without a key member of the offensive line.
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